Suzanne: When will a tax increase be put on the ballot for St. Louis City and the counties in Illinois where Metro link goes? Why was it all dependent on how St. Louis County voted? Why were such hefty cuts made in St. Louis County and no City routes being eliminated or cut back? All the passengers that you have gained recently are going to go back to driving thus you are losing those fares and then what, new fare increases for those of us who have been loyal riders for many years? Were management position wages frozen or cut? Were middle and upper management positions eliminated or was it just drivers? Please explain in detail who determined what cuts were to be made? And, most important, how many management people at Metro actually ride the bus and/or train?

Todd Plesko: Suzanne:

The residents of St. Clair County, in Illinois, enacted two separate sales taxes, to support the Metro services including Metrolink in Illinois. These two taxes total .75 on all local sales. In addition to the taxes enacted in St.Clair County, the State of Illinois will be providing a subsidy up to 65 % of the net cost of transit in St. Clair County. I believe this will exceed $21 million to support Metro service in Illinois.

There are two taxes being collected in the City of St.Louis. One is a 1/2 cent sales tax, which was enacted during the 1970's and the second was the 1994 Prop M 1/4 cent sales tax. (This tax is used primarily to support the bonds for the Shrewsbury Metrolink) The total tax there for from the City is 3/4 cents. The City also appproved an additional 1/4 cent sales in 1997, but this tax has never been collected because the similar tax never passed in the County.

The County provides 1/4 cent sales tax proceeds from its 1/2 cent sales tax passes in 1970's and the 1/4 cent Prop M tax passes in 1994. This totals approximately 1/2 cents in total sales tax.

The County hoped to address its need for funds to support transit with at 1/4 tax in 1997, but that tax failed. They tried again with a 1/2 cent sales tax this past November which would also have expanded Metrolink. This tax failed as well.

No other options are available. We have had to raise fares and will but cutting service. We will lost 25 % of our customers if not more.

The cuts will affect every department. While the final position by position reductions have not been finalized, there will be layoffs in every division. Some its hard to get savings however. For example, support we need to cut 25 % from every cost center. Suppose one cost center includes lighting for Metrolink stations. You can't save any money out of that cost center unless you turn off the lights which is a security issue.

Finally,Metro will be working hard to make its long term costs of wages and benefits as efficient as possible. You can not just change benefits and wages without negotiations of our organized employees. Our contracts generally end in by July 2009. I am sure all issues will be on the table.

Brenda: I cannot believe that the Lindbergh bus line is being discontiued to South County. This is a vital line to the St. Louis Area. Many people connect with other buses along this line. This is causing many problems for bus riders that have to travel from south county to west county. It is causing some people to lose their jobs. So to simply say you know this but can't help it is not exceptable.

Todd Plesko: Brenda:

Metro is able to operate transit service only because our funding partners (St.Louis City and St.Louis County) provide transit subsidies. Fares cover only 20 % of our costs. Metro conducted public hearings in September of 2008 to explain Metro's $50 million shortfall. We also provided information on our website. It has been covered by most of the media as well. St. Louis County offered voters a chance to address this shortfall on November 4th with the Prop M initiative. Unfortunately this failed.

Metro must balance its budget. We are raising fares in January and will likely cut service on March 30th. The 49 Lindbergh in South County is an important route, but it carries relatively few riders. We have attempted to keep the most productive routes, but many will be eliminated. In fact 44 % of all Missouri Metrobus service and 33 % of all Metrolink will be cut.

For more information on the future, check Metro's website at metrostlouis.org.

John: Todd-

Because that State of Illinois provides so much funding for Metro, and Missouri just a fraction of that, what kind of pressure can be put on the MO State Legislature to increase state funding? If St Louis and Kansas City area leaders teamed up, they would represent what seems like over half the state's population and could work out a deal to increase funding. Has that approach been tried thus far?

-John

Todd Plesko: This year the State of Illinois will provide over $20 million to support Metro service. The State of Missouri provides $1.4 million. Everyone, including the State of Missouri elected officials, is aware of the unbalance.

As far back as the mid 1980's, Metro has attempted to persuade the State of Missouri to better fund public transit statewide. There is a Missouri Public Transit Association that Metro was instrumental in founding. As recently as two years ago, Metro appealed to the State for an emergency $20 million appropriation to help with the shortfall that has been building over the last decade. They said no, but perhaps they have not heard from voters like you. Talk to your elected officials and Metro will continue to do the same.

Steve: Todd-

To improve service, has Metro considered posting the time to the next red and blue line trains like in DC and San Francisco (and probably others). Right now, it only seems to show when a train is about 30 seconds away. If it could list the times to the next red and blue line trains and show the minutes that would be a great improvement that other cities have done.

Thanks,

Steve

Todd Plesko: I assume you want an electronic sign rather than the times we already have posted. The current technology does not know which train is coming, only that a train is coming and has triggered a switch up the track. We would love to improve technology, but we need funding. We have many many needs for improving customer convenience, but because our focus is on keeping service on the street, we have not used funds for the kind of advancements that exist.

Momof1girl: Mr. Plesko there are rumors about layoffs as well as service cuts. Rather than laying off would you consider or have you already considered approaching the union with the idea of cutting hours or wages, rather than cutting the jobs entirely?

Todd Plesko: For the last three out of four years, Metro management has not received salary increases. Union labor has also made wage sacrifices. Our contracts will be open to renegotiation in June.

We can no longer balance the budget with this strategy. The deficit is now $50 million out of a $221 million operating budget. We have been attempting to communicate the growing deficit for 10 years while me made numerous internal cuts and raised fares to push this day as far into the future as possible. Now the day is here and we obviously we didn't communicate this pending crisis well enough.